NUMERICAL CONTROL TOOL MACHINE

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a numerical control tool machine.

[0002] In numerical control tool machines a felt problem is the reduction of set-up times. At the same time, for high production-volume pieces dedicated machines are designed only (or almost) for the processing of those pieces, so as to specialize at most and speed up the machining operations.

[0003] Clearly the versatility of the machine is penalized compared to its production speed. Furthermore, the machine is very expensive, and only gets amortized in many years after a prolonged single-piece production.

[0004] EP 1 339 526 discloses a machine according to the preamble of Claim 1. The main object of the invention is to improve the present state of the art.

[0005] Another object of the invention is to create an improved tool machine able of being equipped faster.

[0006] These and other objects are achieved by what is stated in the attached claims; advantageous technical characteristics are defined in the dependent claims.

[0007] A numerical control tool machine is proposed comprising:
a table rotable about an - in use - vertical axis, N processing stations, N ≥ 2, arranged around the table, a support for a piece to be machined, the support being connected to the table to reach in sequence the N stations and to machine the piece thereat, means for connecting the support to the table or releasing it depending on the state of a control input, the support comprising locking members for retaining the workpiece on itself during all the operations performed at the N stations, wherein each support is composed by two heads and a central body, the two heads, a lower one and an upper one, being fixed respectively on a different flange of the table, while the central body protrudes from a drum of the table to bring the workpiece closer to tools of the stations, the central body comprising blocking members to hold the workpiece thereon during rotation of the table.

[0008] By clamping or clamping means an assembly of elements is meant which perform the function of keeping the support and the table united together, or of making them detachable, conditionally on the state of a control input.

[0009] The aforesaid means allow changing the supports on the table in a fast manner, avoiding e.g. to fix the supports with screws.

[0010] The locking members ensure that the workpiece never leaves the support while it is machined in the N stations, ideal condition for not introducing errors.

[0011] Preferably, said means (for connecting) are permanently mounted attached to the support, to simplify the assembly.

[0012] The control input may be e.g.

an electrical signal for controlling the means for connecting,

the position of a manual control member, or

a flow of fluid such as air or oil.

[0013] According to preferred embodiments, the support extends mainly along a plane and is mounted on the table so that the plane is - in use - vertical.

[0014] Preferably, in the embodiment with the support arranged vertical, the support comprises pass-through openings passing from one side thereof to the other, so that a tool can work the piece by passing through the thickness of the support.

[0015] In the embodiment with support placed vertically, preferably the support is mounted on the table so that it can rotate about a vertical axis, parallel to the rotation axis of the table. This degree of freedom for the support not only facilitates the machining of the tool in one of the N stations (also reducing the number of stations), but also the disposal of chips, which fall away from the piece by gravity. Note the remarkable advantage of being able to rotate the support by 180 degrees at each station. The piece can thus show both the upper face and the lower face placed on the support, without the piece having to be re-clamped. The machining of the rear side positioned on the support takes place through the aforesaid pass-through windows or openings arranged in the support itself, through which the operating unit can access. These two aspects contribute synergistically to the efficiency of the machine.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment, the means for connecting comprise two parts connectable together to each other, a first part fixed on the support and a second part fixed part on the table.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment, one of said parts comprises a cone or a truncated cone, and the other part comprises a complementarily shaped cavity.

[0018] This system guarantees the mechanically precise and repeatable centering of the support on the table. In addition, the mechanical precision allows limiting the probing operations or measurements on the piece.

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment, the first and second parts are configured as male-female parts that can fit one into the other.

[0020] According to a preferred embodiment, said means (for connecting) comprise a locking element movable between two positions for respectively constraining or not the first and second part, the position of the movable locking element being controllable by said control input.

[0021] According to a preferred embodiment, the machine comprises probing means for detecting the actual position of the support on the table and compensating for positional errors thereof by changing the machining program performed by the tools in the N stations.

[0022] Another aspect of the invention relates to a method for operating the aforementioned machine, in one or each of its variants, comprising the steps of

• finishing the production of a series of pieces,
• disconnecting a support from the table by driving the control input of the means for connecting;
• connecting a different support to the table, relative to a different piece than the previous one, by driving the control input of the means for connecting,
• starting the production of a series of said different pieces.

[0023] According to a preferred embodiment, the piece is

an aluminum profile; and/or

a platform floor or component for a car.

[0024] Further advantages will become clear from the following description, which refers to an example of a preferred embodiment of a machine in which:

• figure 1 shows a top view of the machine;
• figure 2 shows a three-dimensional view of the machine;
• figure 3 shows a component of the machine,
• figures 4-5 show exploded views of components of the machine.

[0025] Equal numbers in the figures indicate equal or substantially equal parts. In order not to crowd the drawings, sometimes same elements are not numbered.

[0026] Fig. 1 shows the plan of a numerical control tool machine MC comprising a frame 12 on which a central table is mounted revolving about an axis Y1 which is - in use - vertical.

[0027] The frame 12 also houses a plurality of machining stations 14, in the example five, which are equipped with tool and arranged around the table 10. By turning the table 10 about the axis Y2 a piece can be moved in sequence across the stations 14 to be machined therein.

[0028] The table 10, shown isolated in fig. 3, is composed of a central drum 20 from which radially extend two flanges 22 which support, with radial symmetry, supports 30, in the example six in number, for a piece 42.

[0029] Particular efficiency was experienced when

the piece 42 is an automobile component, e.g. a platform to house batteries for electric car; and/or

the piece 42 is made of aluminum.

[0030] The supports 30, shown isolated in figures 4 and 5, extend between the two flanges 22 along a vertical axis Y2 parallel to the axis Y1. The supports 30 are composed by two heads 32, 34 and a central body 36.

[0031] The two heads 32, 34, a lower one and an upper one, are fixed respectively on a different flange 22, while the central body 36 protrudes from the drum 20 to bring the piece 42 closer to the tools of the stations 14.

[0032] The central body 36 comprises blocking members 40, e.g. pneumatic clamps, to hold the piece 42 thereon during rotation about the axis Y1 and all the machining performed in the stations 14. Preferably the body 26 is rotatable with respect to the heads 32, 34 about the axis Y2 (via a known drive, e.g. an electric motor mounted in the head 32), with the advantage that the piece 42 can also show to the tools of a station 14 the side previously facing the central drum 20.

[0033] Advantageously, the central body 36 is fixed to the two heads 32, 34 via a quick-release connection. For this purpose the body 36 comprises anchoring means to the heads 32, 34 which can be activated/deactivated in dependency of the state of a control input. By being able to change the bodies 36 on the table 10 the machine MC can be quickly equipped for a new piece, thus becoming very flexible as well as usable in low or medium volume production lines.

[0034] The anchoring means in the illustrated variant comprise two facing parts which can couple on command: a fixed part on the heads 32, 34 and a fixed part on the body 36.

[0035] The fixed part on the heads 32, 34 comprises (fig. 4) a protruding pin 50 equipped with a conical portion 54 and radial pins 52 capable of protruding more or less from the lateral surface of the pin 50.

[0036] The fixed part on the body 36 comprises (fig. 5) a disk 60 with a cavity 62 complementary to the pin 50 and to the conical portion 54. Complementarity between conical shapes ensures good centering. In the cavity 62 there are holes complementary to the pins 52.

[0037] The pin 50 and the cavity 62 are configured as male-female parts that can be fitted into each other. To attach the body 36 to the heads 32, 34, and therefore to the table 10, the body 36 is moved horizontally near the heads 32, 34 so that the pin 50 inserts into the cavity 62 and, for example through an input of compressed air or oil, the pins 52 are controlled to come out from the pin 50 and enter the corresponding holes in the cavity 62, in order to join the body 36 and the heads 32, 34 together.

[0038] An operating method for machining a piece 42 with the machine MC comprises the steps of

• mounting a piece 42 onto the body 36,
• blocking it on the body 36 by operating the clamps 40,
• rotating the table 10 to bring the piece 42 sequentially in front of the tools of each station 14,
• optionally, rotating the body 36 around the axis Y2 at a or each station 14 for exposing and machining a different side of the piece 42,
• unloading a piece 42 from the body 36 when it has circulated through all the stations 14 and loading another piece.

[0039] By construction, a support 30 is dedicated to the piece to be machined, or it is however not possible to load onto the support 30 any piece.

[0040] An operating method with the machine MC to change the type of pieces to be machined, comprises e.g. the steps of

• commanding the control input of the pins 52 to disengage a body 36 from the heads 32, 34 of the table 10;
• removing, e.g. with a forklift or a robot or a lifting carriage, the body 36 from table 30,
• connecting to the heads 32, 34, e.g. with a forklift or a robot or a lifting carriage, a different body 36 relating to a different piece from the previous one, e.g. taking the different body 36 from a storage,
• commanding the pins 52 to anchor the new body 36 to the heads 32, 34.

[0041] Thus the production of a series of different pieces can begin.

Claims

1. Numerical control tool machine (MC) comprising:

a table (10) turnable about an - in use - vertical axis (Y1),

N processing stations (14), N ≥ 2, arranged around the table (10),

a support (30) for a workpiece (42), the support (30)
being connected to the table (10) for reaching in sequence the N stations (14) and making the piece be processed thereat,

means (50, 60) for connecting the support (30) to the table (10) or releasing it depending on the state of a control input,

the support (30) comprising locking members (40) for retaining the workpiece on itself during all the operations performed at the N stations (40),

characterized in that

each support (30) is composed by two heads (32, 34) and a central body (36),

the two heads (32, 34), a lower one and an upper one, being fixed respectively on a different flange (22) of the table (10), while the central body (36) protrudes from a drum (20) of the table (10) to bring the workpiece (42) closer to tools of the stations (14),

the central body (36) comprising blocking members (40) to hold the workpiece (42) thereon during rotation of the table (10).

2. Machine (MC) according to claim 1, wherein the support (30) extends mainly along a plane and is mounted on the table (10) so that the plane is - in use - vertical.

3. Machine (MC) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the support (30) comprises pass-through openings passing from one side thereof to the other, so that a tool can work the workpiece by passing through the thickness of the support (30).

4. Machine (MC) according to any previous claim, wherein the support (30) is mounted on the table (10) so as to be able to rotate about a vertical axis (Y2), parallel to the rotation axis (Y1) of the table (10).

5. Machine (MC) according to any previous claim, wherein the means for connecting comprise two parts which are connectable together, a first part (60) fixed on the support (30) and a second part (50) fixed on the table (10).

6. Machine (MC) according to claim 5, wherein one of said parts comprises a cone (54) or truncated cone, and the other part comprises a cavity (62) of complementary shape.

7. Machine (MC) according to claim 5, wherein the first and second parts (60, 50) are configured as male-female parts that can fit one into the other.

8. Machine (MC) according to claim 5 or 6 or 7, wherein said means comprise a locking element (52) movable between two positions to respectively constrain the table (10) and the support (30), or the first and second parts, the position of the movable locking element being controllable by said control input.

9. Machine (MC) according to any previous claim, comprising probing means for detecting the actual position of the support (30) on the table (10) and compensating for positional errors by modifying the machining program performed by the tools at the N stations.

10. Machine (MC) according to claim 1 or claim 4, wherein the central body (36) is rotatable with respect to the heads (32, 34) about an axis (Y2) parallel to the rotation axis of the table (10).

11. Machine (MC) according to any previous claim, wherein said means for connecting (50, 60) are permanently mounted attached to the support (30).

12. Method for operating the machine (MC) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the steps of

- finishing the production of a series of workpieces,

- disconnecting a support (30) from the table (10) by commanding the control input of the means (50, 60) for connecting;

- connecting a different support (30) to the table, relative to a different workpiece from the previous one, by commanding the control input of the means for connecting,

- starting the production of a series of said different workpieces.

13. Method according to claim 12, wherein the workpiece (42) is an aluminum profile.

14. Method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the workpiece (42) is a platform or component for an automobile or vehicle.

Ansprüche

1. Werkzeugmaschine mit numerischer Steuerung (MC), bestehend aus:

einem Tisch (10), der um eine - im Gebrauch - vertikale Achse (Y1) drehbar ist,

N Bearbeitungsstationen (14), N > 2, die um den Tisch (10) herum angeordnet sind,

einen Träger (30) für ein Werkstück (42), wobei der Träger (30) mit dem Tisch (10) verbunden ist, um nacheinander die N-Stationen (14) zu erreichen und das Werkstück dort

zu bearbeiten,

Mittel (50, 60) zum Verbinden des Trägers (30) mit dem Tisch (10) oder zum Lösen des Trägers in Abhängigkeit vom Zustand eines Steuereingangs,

wobei der Träger (30) umfasst Verriegelungselemente (40), um das Werkstück während aller an den N-Stationen (40) durchgeführten Vorgänge auf sich selbst zu halten,

dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass

jeder Träger (30) besteht aus zwei Köpfen (32, 34) und einem zentralen Körper (36),

die beiden Köpfe (32, 34), ein unterer und ein oberer, sind jeweils an einem anderen Flansch (22) des Tisches (10) befestigt, während der zentrale Körper (36) aus einer Trommel (20) des Tisches (10) herausragt, um das Werkstück (42) näher an die Werkzeuge der Stationen (14) zu bringen,

der zentrale Körper (36) umfasst Blockierungselemente (40), um das Werkstück (42) während der Drehung des Tisches (10) darauf zu halten.

2. Maschine (MC) nach Anspruch 1, wobei sich der Träger (30) hauptsächlich entlang einer Ebene erstreckt und so auf dem Tisch (10) montiert ist, dass die Ebene - im Gebrauch - vertikal ist.

3. Maschine (MC) nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, wobei der Träger (30) Durchgangsöffnungen aufweist, die von einer Seite des Trägers zur anderen verlaufen, so dass ein Werkzeug das Werkstück durch die Dicke des Trägers (30) hindurch bearbeiten kann.

4. Maschine (MC) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Träger (30) auf dem Tisch (10) um eine vertikale Achse (Y2) parallel zur Drehachse (Y1) des Tisches (10) drehbar gelagert ist.

5. Maschine (MC) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Verbindungsmittel zwei Teile umfassen, die miteinander verbunden werden können, einen ersten Teil (60), der auf dem Träger (30) befestigt ist, und einen zweiten Teil (50), der auf dem Tisch (10) befestigt ist.

6. Maschine (MC) nach Anspruch 5, wobei eines der Teile einen Kegel (54) oder Kegelstumpf und das andere Teil einen Hohlraum (62) mit komplementärer Form aufweist.

7. Maschine (MC) nach Anspruch 5, wobei das erste und das zweite Teil (60, 50) als ineinander steckbare Teile ausgebildet sind.

8. Maschine (MC) nach Anspruch 5 oder 6 oder 7, wobei die Mittel ein Verriegelungselement (52) umfassen, das zwischen zwei Positionen beweglich ist, um den Tisch (10) und den Träger (30) oder das erste und das zweite Teil jeweils einzuspannen, wobei die Position des beweglichen Verriegelungselements durch den Steuereingang steuerbar ist.

9. Maschine (MC) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, mit Abtastmitteln zum Erfassen der tatsächlichen Position des Trägers (30) auf dem Tisch (10) und zum Ausgleichen von Positionsfehlern durch Modifizieren des von den Werkzeugen an den N-Stationen ausgeführten Bearbeitungsprogramms.

10. Maschine (MC) nach Anspruch 1 oder Anspruch 4, wobei der Zentralkörper (36) in Bezug auf die Köpfe (32, 34) um eine Achse (Y2) parallel zur Drehachse des Tisches (10) drehbar ist.

11. Maschine (MC) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Verbindungsmittel (50, 60) dauerhaft an dem Träger (30) angebracht sind.

12. Verfahren zum Betreiben der Maschine (MC) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, umfassend die Schritte:

- Abschluss der Produktion einer Serie von Werkstücken,

- Trennen eines Trägers (30) vom Tisch (10) durch Ansteuerung des Steuereingangs der Verbindungsmittel (50, 60);

- Verbinden eines anderen Trägers (30) mit dem Tisch, bezogen auf ein anderes Werkstück als das vorhergehende, durch Ansteuerung des Steuereingangs des Verbindungsmittels,

- Beginn der Produktion einer Serie von verschiedenen Werkstücken.

13. Verfahren nach Anspruch 12, wobei das Werkstück (42) ein Aluminiumprofil ist.

14. Verfahren nach Anspruch 12 oder 13, wobei das Werkstück (42) eine Plattform oder ein Bauteil für ein Automobil oder Fahrzeug ist.

Revendications

1. Machine-outil à commande numérique (MC) comprenant :

une table (10) orientable autour d'un axe vertical (Y1) en cours d'utilisation,

N postes de traitement (14), N > 2, disposés autour de la table (10),

un support (30) pour une pièce (42), le support (30) étant relié à la table (10) pour atteindre en séquence les N stations (14) et y faire traiter la pièce,

des moyens (50, 60) pour relier le support (30) à la table (10) ou le libérer en fonction de l'état d'une entrée de commande,

le support (30) comporte des organes de verrouillage (40) pour maintenir la pièce sur elle-même pendant toutes les opérations effectuées aux postes N (40),

caractérisé par le fait que

chaque support (30) est composé de deux têtes (32, 34) et d'un corps central (36),

les deux têtes (32, 34), l'une inférieure et l'autre supérieure, sont fixées respectivement sur une bride différente (22) de la table (10), tandis que le corps central (36) dépasse d'un tambour (20) de la table (10) pour rapprocher la pièce à usiner (42) des outils des stations (14),

le corps central (36) comprend des éléments de blocage (40) pour maintenir la pièce à usiner (42) pendant la rotation de la table (10).

2. Machine (MC) selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle le support (30) s'étend principalement le long d'un plan et est monté sur la table (10) de manière à ce que le plan soit - en cours d'utilisation - vertical.

3. Machine (MC) selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans laquelle le support (30) comporte des ouvertures traversantes passant d'un côté à l'autre, de sorte qu'un outil puisse travailler la pièce en passant à travers l'épaisseur du support (30).

4. Machine (MC) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle le support (30) est monté sur la table (10) de manière à pouvoir tourner autour d'un axe vertical (Y2), parallèle à l'axe de rotation (Y1) de la table (10).

5. Machine (MC) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle les moyens de liaison comprennent deux parties connectables entre elles, une première partie (60) fixée sur le support (30) et une seconde partie (50) fixée sur la table (10).

6. Machine (MC) selon la revendication 5, dans laquelle l'une des parties comprend un cône (54) ou un cône tronqué, et l'autre partie comprend une cavité (62) de forme complémentaire.

7. Machine (MC) selon la revendication 5, dans laquelle la première et la deuxième partie (60, 50) sont configurées comme des pièces mâle-femelle qui peuvent s'emboîter l'une dans l'autre.

8. Machine (MC) selon la revendication 5 ou 6 ou 7, dans laquelle lesdits moyens comprennent un élément de verrouillage (52) mobile entre deux positions pour contraindre respectivement la table (10) et le support (30), ou la première et la seconde partie, la position de l'élément de verrouillage mobile étant contrôlable par ladite entrée de commande.

9. Machine (MC) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant des moyens de palpage pour détecter la position réelle du support (30) sur la table (10) et compenser les erreurs de position en modifiant le programme d'usinage exécuté par les outils aux N stations.

10. Machine (MC) selon la revendication 1 ou la revendication 4, dans laquelle le corps central (36) peut tourner par rapport aux têtes (32, 34) autour d'un axe (Y2) parallèle à l'axe de rotation de la table (10).

11. Machine (MC) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle lesdits moyens de connexion (50, 60) sont montés de façon permanente sur le support (30).

12. Procédé de fonctionnement de la machine (MC) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant les étapes suivantes

- terminer la production d'une série de pièces,

- déconnecter un support (30) de la table (10) en commandant l'entrée de commande des moyens (50, 60) de connexion ;

- connecter un autre support (30) à la table, par rapport à une pièce différente de la précédente, en commandant l'entrée de contrôle du moyen de connexion,

- lancer la production d'une série de pièces différentes.

13. Procédé selon la revendication 12, dans lequel la pièce (42) est un profilé en aluminium.

14. Procédé selon la revendication 12 ou 13, dans lequel la pièce (42) est une plateforme ou un composant pour une automobile ou un véhicule.

Drawing